Keynote address by the Minister of Energy of South Africa, Ms Dipuo Peters, MP, at the Africa Energy Indaba

Programme Director,
The World Energy Council Secretary General, Mr Chistoph Frei
The CEO of the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki
Chairman of the South African National Energy Association, Mr Brian Statham
Energy and infrastructure representatives from various parts of Africa
Esteemed guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.

Let me share our appreciation for this platform made possible by the conference organisers. Platforms like these are important as they continue to cultivate dialogue between government and all other stakeholders in the energy sector.

This Indaba affords us an opportunity to reflect on a number of key issues and areas of common ground on the African continent, particularly as they relate to the exiting developments currently occurring in the energy space.

It also assists us in engaging on the challenges facing not only us as the continent, but the globe as a whole. As South Africa, we remain firmly committed to the development and rise of Africa. Our foreign policy and international relations posture is a clear indication of such, and this remain a key pillar of our work.

In August 2012, South Africa published its National Development Plan (NDP), which has subsequently been adopted by the African National Congress at its 53rd National Conference held in Mangaung in December 2012.

The Minister in the Presidency and Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Mr Trevor Manuel, MP, asserted that “the plan sets targets for energy consumption, the carbon intensity of the energy supply, water supply, rail and port capacity”…